Rejecting the derogatory term "Gringos" and the accusatory epithet "Yanquis," Cubans prefer to refer to us, their North American neighbors, as "Yumas." This blog is simply one Yuma's way of sharing his thoughts on all things Cuban, a subject that often generates more heat than light.

Sunday, August 3, 2014

FYI: After a bit of strange while-you're-waiting jazz muzak, our long-awaited event starts at minute 9:50. A brief Books and Books welcome is followed by Yours Truly, who kicks off by welcoming a number of special Cuban guests in the room such as Amb. Martin Palous, Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo, Rosa María Payá, Joaquín Pujol, and my wife Tasha and mother-in-law Maria Anagnostopoulos (Fernández-Castro)) -and lamenting the fact that Miriam Celaya - one of the book's co-editors - could not be with us.

I then read the book's preface starting at minute 23:30.

Next, Dimas Castellanos shares his thoughts (in Spanish) on co-editing and co-writing the book from Cuba (37:10).

Then, one of the books many other authors, Miriam Leiva, discusses her part in the project (in English) at minute 47:15.

The event ends with a brief but energetic Q&A at minute 55.

Enjoy!

Note: Books and Books sold most o the copies I provided, but they still have 4 books in stock and they are exclusively available there for half off the $89 list price at just $45!

Here's the official event description published by Books and Books:

Saturday, August 2, 2014 7:00 p.m.
Join us to celebrate the publication by ABC-CLIO of CUBA IN FOCUS, a new Cuba Reader of Independent Voices Desde Adentro, edited by ASCE President Ted A. Henken, together with Cuban co-editors Miriam Celaya and Dimas Castellanos.

Henken and Castellanos will be present together with other book contributors Miriam Leiva and Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo.

The volume also includes original essays by the late economist Óscar Espinosa Chepe, blogger Yoani Sánchez, independent journalist Reinaldo Escobar, and independent lawyer Wilfredo Vallín.